Bite Force Evaluation of Conventional Plating System Versus Locking Plating System for Mandibular Fracture

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Mandibular fractures require surgical intervention for restoration of function.
• Open reduction and rigid internal fixation are standard treatment modalities.
• The choice of fixation hardware, specifically miniplates, may influence functional recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare bite force recovery in patients with mandibular fractures treated with 2.0 mm locking versus non-locking miniplates.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different miniplate types in supporting masticatory loads post-fixation.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized study involving 20 adult patients with 31 mandibular fractures.
• Patients were randomized to receive either 2.0 mm non-locking or 2.0 mm locking miniplates for open reduction and internal fixation.
• Bite force was measured at baseline, and at 1st, 3rd, and 6th weeks post-operatively.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in clinical parameters like pain, swelling, infection, paresthesia, hardware failure, or mobility.
• Locking miniplates showed greater bite force enhancement compared to baseline values post-trauma.
• Significant increases in bite force were noted from post-operative day 2 to week 6, with highly significant results for the locking plate group (p < 0.001) compared to the non-locking group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Locking miniplates appear superior for managing masticatory loads during mandibular fracture osteosynthesis.
• Despite biomechanical advantages, clinical outcomes were comparable between locking and non-locking miniplate fixation.
• The study suggests locking plates offer enhanced functional recovery in terms of bite force restoration.